Sheridan cancels festival shows

Tommy Sheridan will perform two shows at the festival

Former MSP Tommy Sheridan has cancelled a number of shows at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival, to prepare for legal proceedings.

Mr Sheridan, who left the Scottish Socialist Party to form Solidarity, had been due to put on nine performances of his Stand 'n' Tan show in March.

Organisers said only two of the 43-year-old's shows would go ahead .

Mr Sheridan was charged with perjury in December relating to his defamation case against the News of the World.

His wife Gail, 44, her father, Angus Healy, 71, and four colleagues who backed him in the trial have also been charged.

An appeal by the News of the World against Mr Sheridan's libel victory in 2006 has been put on hold until the Crown inquiry into perjury allegations resulting from the case is resolved.